Wonder Woman

Wayne’s Appliance & Mattress owner Sandy Quick uses the knowledge she learned from her parents to guide the business.

Sandy Quick knows how to get things done. From ordering stock and unloading trucks to serving customers on the sales floor, the Wayne’s Appliance & Mattress owner is using the strong work ethic she learned from her late parents, Wayne and Alice Forcum, to not only run but expand the more than 50-year-old business they handed down to her.

Five years ago, Quick took the reins of the family company, moving it to 5719 E. Morgan Ave. for an expansion of its products and services. Under her leadership, along with help from her husband David, the business now boasts the Restonic line of mattresses in addition to a range of household appliances from Whirlpool, Jenn-Air, Maytag, GE, KitchenAid, Samsung, LG, and Holland Grill Company. But the biggest change is the addition of a warehouse at the retail facility, which gives customers the new option of selecting and picking up products the same day.

Quick credits the company’s successful expansion to staying “local.”

“It’s hands-on constantly, and it’s human contact,” she says. “There’s no corporate office to go through — I make the decisions.”

Wayne’s 12-member staff of mostly women — many of whom have been with the company for more than 10 or 20 years — all can service each side of the business, from sales to stocking.

“We get stuff done,” says Quick, who graduated from Indiana State University-Evansville (now University of Southern Indiana) in 1985 with a degree in business administration.

Anna Meeler, a Wayne’s sales associate for eight years, says employees stay with the company for Quick’s solid leadership and strong work ethic.

“She creates a family-like atmosphere,” says Meeler.

While Quick may be a rare female business owner among colleagues at appliance industry meetings, she says it’s a big advantage in relating to female customers.

“Women take care of the household appliances and make the buying decisions,” she notes.

Another important part of Quick’s business is charitable work — most notably with the Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association, as she has the disease.

No matter how much the company expands, Quick says Wayne’s always will remain locally owned and give back to the community that supports it.

“Every time a customer leaves the store,” says Quick, “I thank them for buying local.”

For more information about Wayne’s Appliance & Mattress, call 812-425-5451 or visit gowaynes.com.